I have a G5, my first M/43. I am impressed and it's the first camera since way back when I got started (30 years ago) that I really ENJOY using.

It's really strange that dpreview will be among the last, if ever, to review this camera. I used to look to dpreview as my major camera review source. No more. They need to get on the ball in general and to have a video review presence like cameralabs.com.

That's the fascist EU for you, and why Britain wants out! (Import duty on camcorders etc - use Google to learn more.) Sorry, posting this almost a year after your comment, but I'm thinking of buying a G5 with 14-42 and 45-150 for knockdown price in John Lewis and seeing what others think.

Currently, own G2 -seems G5 is partially moving closer to g2 in terms of ergonomics. G2 already has much of the g5 features. I love my camera, and the only thing I'm interested is picture quality and low light.

I have the G3 and love it. In fact I just bought a second c3 as a backup and replacement. The g5 may be a nice camera but I just don't think the improvements over the g3 justify it being twice the price-- seems like a scam by Panasonic to make more profit.

Dpreview, are you planning on doing a full review of this camera before the next generation comes out? Is there a particular reason why the only M4/3 raw comparisons, etc. are ridiculously out of date?

I would love to know too. I wonder if dpreview will ever update any of their ancient info on the Panasonic M4/3 system? I am guessing that IQ/ISO is much better on the G5 but the GH2 is a better all round camera in terms of build, functionality, etc.

Have just come back from a month in Europe, and have to say the new Lumix G5 camera with the 14-42 power lens (I was able to purchase the kit duty-free at Heathrow) is just about the best combination I've ever experienced for travel. It is very fast to start up, has a super fast sensor and good specs. It is almost infinitely customisable with great manual controls and various auto combinations up to fully automatic. Those who wonder about the function control next to the shutter-control have evidently not had to hang on with one hand whilst trying to zoom and take a photo - it was very handy. I rarely felt the need for a larger zoom, and the quality of the finished product is great. I haven’t used the touch screen, still getting used to the HDR (needs a tripod I guess) and still learning other functions but so far brilliant. I had a G1 from early on, which has been good, but this is an even better successor and I can use the legacy lenses, although unfortunately not the battery.

Why would Panasonic only make this camera in a kit with the non-power zoom lens, while the GF5 comes in a kit with the power zoom? This is a higher camera, with the zoom control built into the camera, but they don't make it available with the power lens? I'd be interested in this camera with the power lens, but it is too expensive if you have to buy them separately.

Why can't just Panasonic -or for that matter other makers -make TRUE multi aspect sensor i.e words SQUARE ! After all we're just talking about extra 4-5mm (17,3x17,3) or 4,5mm (13,2x13,2 or perhaps slightly bigger) in case of Sony RX100 This would really allow to fully utilize the whole area of the sensor in 1:1 to 16:9 aspect. As a additional benefit You could switch to take photos in either landscape or portait mode without changing the physical position of the camera- just appropiate switch would do. This would be really something with which they could differentiate these types of cameras from DSLR, where due to their use of pentaprism and the size of the sensor this kind of thing is impossible to do!

The grip is back. I like it. It`s important for me to have the opportunity to hold my cam with just one hand. That`s why I didn`t get the G3. Thank you Panasonic. Of course the price of G5 now is double against G3. Shame on you Panasonic, but I will buy it anyway...............and just hope it is near OM-D in IQ

Not much to tempt me to upgrade from my G3. Give it a year and a big price drop and then, maybe. I agree that the Panasonic 12-35mm 2.8 is too expensive but help may be on the way as Sigma and Tamron begin building DSLM lenses. I moved from a huge and heavy Canon 450d and used a huge and heavy Sigma 17-70mm 2.8-4 and it was a great all round lens. After 6 months with the G3 I am finidng the weight and size together with easy access to movie mode a massive advantage over DSLRs. The only negative I have found with the G3 which the G5 seems to address is the battery life which is appalling on the G3. 150 shots if you are lucky. I believe DSLMs will kill off entry level DSLRs and it is surprising Canon went with a bland viewfinderless offering to try to stop the drift to M43 and the Sony offerings. The market demands a viewfinder due to that bright thing up in the sky!

"It sits above the simpler GF5 and below the top-of-the-line and enthusiast models GH2 and GX1."

Considering the price of GX1 and a few of the specs, it is most definitely sitting above the GX1. The business practices of Panasonic are terrible, they are driving the value down on their own products .....

Looks like a very, very good camera with one fatal flaw - it is still daylight-only with most m43 lenses, and if there is daylight, almost any modern P&S will suffice these days. They should add IBIS already. And if it is hybrid - combining the effects of IBIS and OIS in Pana zooms - it will be a killer feature.

I actually like the looks of the G5 (much more than the G3, G2, G1, GH2 or GH1). Reminds me of the new sony SLT styling (like a compact SLT). And I agree with the comments below, the viewfinder and lens have shifted to the left (like the G3) but still remain in line with each other which is to me perfect.This one might be the right mix of features to finally convince me to upgrade from my GF1.

Looking forward to comparing the G5 pics with Oly OM-D JPEG-wise, and then moving on to comparisons with intro-level DSLRs. Having a second invader in the DSLR territory, I'll love to see m4/3 go 30+ Mpix (or Merill) on the sensor side while pushing WiFi to the limit (including video conferencing/broadcasting).

The G5 isn't pretty, but I'll take function over "styling". OM-D, despite its trite homage to real OM cameras deserves credit for weatherproofing, in body stabilization, and I suspect Panasonic still falls short for in-camera jpegs.

Even SLRs can have the viewfinder pushed all the way to the left. But they don't do it that way. Having the viewfinder aligned with the lens is the least disturbing way of doing things for macro photography, and is the best ergonomic compromise for right and left eyed users.

Also when you take your eye away from the viewfinder and look up, you are seeing what in line with the lens and what the lens basically sees. With wildlife you can use the hot-shoe as a crude sight to find your target and then drop your eye to the viewfinder.

The moment you turn your camera to vertical -- as you often do for portraits, for example -- the VF is on the left (or right) of the lens. So much for the argument about the importance of it being over the lens axis in horizontal mode. Cartier-Bresson's Leicas always had offset VFs and he did OK! :)

I really like the look of the G5 and for my money, neither it nor the 12-35 lens is overpriced.

Looks ugly to some below, but to me it looks like a very comfortable/practical photographic tool. Doesn't look worse than anything Canon makes. ;) The hand grip as reported is function over form (unlike so many micro grips that are small form over function). Also, for a right eye shooter it looks very nicely sculpted for us. I can even see the touch pad AF working out for right eye shooters. Left eye shooters with LCD out might work too.

What I'll be curious to find out is: 1. what will the street price be? 2. Does it have multi-aspect sensor like GH2? 3. Is the high ISO really better? 4. What battery? 5. How does video compare to GH2.

would say OM-D looks ugly and uncomfortable and it really is. this G5 looks beautiful as a camera, way better than G3. easy to use itself means better performance (I assume the technical performance same as old models?).

Yes, the Panasonic web site doesn't show the same resultions at aspect ratios other than 4:3 that this preview shows. Please clarify. Can you actually confirm the G5 uses the multi-aspect sensor the same was the GH2 does?

Yes, you would think so, but dpreview originally listed the resolutions as wider in 3:2 and 16:9, and still says that the sensor is 18MP (like the GH2's). Dpreview has now corrected the resolution specs, so presumably that confirms it's not multi-aspect.

Does it have a new battery type?I already have a few bodies that share the G3, GX1 and GF2 battery... was hoping that the G5 has the same battery and therefore avoid carrying extra chargers and more new batteries

Very clever of Panasonic to require different proprietary batteries, with maybe only two exceptions, for every G, GF, GX, or GH camera. How catestrophic if the industry were to converge on a few common standards, as in the case of SDHC cards or AA-sized Li-ion.

Thanks phototransformations for spotting the mAH differnce. It sickens me to have a sea of different batteries to charge in the family. A quick look around the lounge just now reveals 7 cameras using 6 different batteries needing 6 chargers.. what a pain when travelling.The new standard within the cellphone industry to aim for recharging via standard usb would be great with cameras when traveling. Just plug a mini usb into your camera from the laptop usb or a usb wall charger then charge your batteries... simple :)

I agree with MarkInSF - was about to post the same point myself. The G3 definitely has an aluminium front panel, just like the G5 has - far colder than the plastic rear half and top trim. My G3 is early production - unless they altered the build in later ones (unlikely, but not impossible I suppose).

Admins, are you sure about lack of a Orientation Sensor in G5? According to http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/panasonic-g5/panasonic-g5A.HTM

"Also new is the Panasonic Lumix G5's level gauge, based around input from a three-axis accelerometer sensor. This provides a dual-axis (side-to-side roll and front-to-back pitch) level display, helping you get level horizons and prevent converging verticals."

The front panel of the G3 is aluminum, not plastic, per your review and many others. The construction of the G5 looks to be essentially the same, aluminum except for the back, including the articulated lcd, and some small bits. Perfectly sensible way of building a mid-priced camera. I'm looking forward to trying one out.

If all anyone has to complain about is that this camera is not aesthetically pleasing then I think Panasonic has done a great job.

The new features on this camera look great. However, the FZ200 makes me want to rethink the whole interchangeable lens solution. An LX7 and an FZ200 would get me about 90% of what I have with my GH2 and a bag full of lenses.

Bob, you may see it from another perspective that the 4/3 and mf/3 systems don't have good enough lenses. that they won't be able to compete with 24-70/2.8 from Canon and Nikon without 12-35/1.4 ones (of the same aperture size, 24/2.8 = 12/1.4 = 8.5mm). the Pana 12-35/2.8 is equivalent to 24-70/5.6, a real joke.

"The LCD now also comes with a feature that is called 'Touchpad AF'. It allows you to move the AF area across the frame with your finger on the LCD while you're framing the shot through the EVF." - that doesn't sound very practical too me. I imagine my nose being a tad bit in the way when looking through the viewfinder. A touchpad or joystick next to the screen still seems like the more ergonomical solution.

Excellent comparison and the camera! G5 appears to me much more convenient to work with than G3, which I already prefer over EM5. Both the thumb rest and the grip with slanted shutter button show good ergonomics. The Fn1 and QMenu buttons are very well placed. Based on the GF5 reviews, I can expect the same excitement over improved imaging quality (particularly in low-light situations) and excellent video, plus new 920k dot touch-sensitive LCD, etc.IMHO, G5 is a first serious contender to upgrade from any other previous Micro Four Thirds cameras with built-in EVF.